Women have the opportunity to play a critically important role in the resolution of conflicts in families, communities, schools, and businesses and in post-conflict settings where refugees and internally displaced persons struggle to survive in the aftermath of violence. There are several factors, which combine to position women to play this role. First, women have, historically, played critically important roles in families, communities, and schools, raising and educating children, and engaging their neighbors and friends, across their communities. Second, women often have the relational networks, in families, organizations and communities that can support their work as conflict resolvers. Third, women are differentially victimized by violence, at home, and in the context of violent conflict. Domestic violence is increasingly seen as an urgent problem across the world, in every culture. Women are more likely to be victims of human trafficking, or to be victimized by civil wars. For this reason, women have been increasingly the focus of peace building efforts, as the UN and other international actors recognize that women can be positive forces for peace.
There are a series of learning goals associated to this certificate, both theoretical and practical: